The United States Travel Association (USTA) has released a guidance for travel-related businesses to adapt. It is intended to promote the health and safety of travelers as the country reopens from lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The guidance is designed for all aspects of the travel industry, including hotels, resorts, airports, airlines, attractions, restaurants, retail, rental cars, meeting venues, event producers, travel advisors, cruise lines, vacation rentals, and other types.  

According to USTA, the guidance builds upon and aligns with the White House and CDC guidelines for “Opening Up America Again.” 

The USTA said in a statement: 

“As we move to the next phase of our response to the pandemic, we must demonstrate leadership to elected officials and public health authorities who will decide when, how and under what conditions travel businesses are allowed to reopen across America. Just as importantly, we must also inspire confidence in travelers by demonstrating travel businesses are appropriately focused on their health and safety.” 

This guidance assumes a phased approach to reopening travel, according to USTA. Titled “Travel in the New Normal,” the guidance is focused on six main areas:

• Travel businesses should adapt operations, modify employee practices and/or redesign public spaces to help protect employees and customers.

• Travel businesses should consider implementing touchless solutions, where practical, to limit the opportunity for virus transmission while also enabling a positive travel experience.

• Travel businesses should adopt and implement enhanced sanitation procedures specifically designed to combat the transmission of COVID-19.

• Travel businesses should promote health screening measures for employees and isolate workers with possible COVID-19 symptoms and provide health resources to customers.

• Travel businesses should establish a set of procedures aligned with CDC guidance should an employee test positive for COVID-19.

• Travel businesses should follow best practices in food and beverage service to promote health of employees and customers.

The full guidance can be accessed here.